THE FIRST DAY. 

 CHAPTER I. 



PISCATOR JUNIOR AND VIATOR. 

 PlSCATOR. 



YOU are happily overtaken, Sir. May a man be so bold as 

 to inquire how far you travel this way ? 



VIATOR. Yes, sure, Sir, very freely ; though it be a question 

 I cannot very well resolve you, as not knowing myself how far 

 it is to Ashbourn, where I intend to-night to take up my inn. 



Pise. Why then, Sir, seeing I perceive you to be a stranger 

 in these parts, I shall take upon me to inform you, that from 

 the town you last came through, called Brailsford, it is five 

 miles ; and you are not yet above half a mile on this side. 



VIAT. So much ! I was told it was but ten miles from Derby ; 

 and, methinks, I have rode almost so far already. 



Pise. O, Sir, find no fault with large measure of good land ; 

 which Derbyshire abounds in, as much as most counties of 

 England. 



VIAT. It may be so ; and good land, I confess, affords a 

 pleasant prospect : but, by your good leave, Sir, large measure 

 of foul way is not altogether so acceptable. 



Pise. True, Sir ; but the foul way serves to justify the fer- 

 tility of the soil, according to the proverb, " There is good 

 land where there is foul way ' ' : and is of good use to inform you 

 of the riches of the country you are come into, and of its con- 

 tinual travel and traffic to the country-town you came from : 

 which is also very observable by the fulness of its road, and 

 the laden horses you meet everywhere upon the way. 



